News: Saints confirm expansion plans for Franklin's Gardens
By ComeOnYouSaints.com
September 19 2011
At the club’s Annual General Meeting this evening, the Northampton Saints management confirmed the plans and timeline for the development of Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints confirm expansion plans for Franklin's Gardens
At the club’s Annual General Meeting this evening, the Northampton Saints management confirmed the plans and timeline for the development of Franklin’s Gardens.
The new North Stand would turn Franklin’s Gardens into a wraparound arena and in the process complete the redevelopment of the home of the Saints which was started a decade ago.
Designed by Peter Haddon Partnership, who have had a long-standing close relationship with Northampton Saints since the early-1960s, the new North Stand would see the capacity of Franklin’s Gardens increase to just under 15,500, including 10 corporate hospitality boxes, a function suite that can seat up to 270 people, a state-of-the-art stadium control room and television studio, a ground floor bar for supporters and full facilities for disabled fans.
The development, which would also confirm Franklin’s Gardens as the best dedicated rugby facility in the country, is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2013.
Saints chairman Leon Barwell said that the confirmation of the plans marked a big step forward in the continuing development not just of Franklin’s Gardens but the club as a whole.
“The development of Franklin’s Gardens is a long-standing issue, and we believe we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Barwell said. “Although we have had plans for the North Stand we have also been talking in abstracts about the timeline for the development.
“We are therefore very pleased to be in the position to confirm not just what the new North Stand will look like, but also when we intend for the development to take place. This gives us plenty of time to put together a planning application that takes into account every possible aspect and ensures that we will not be doing a rush job for the sake of it.
“The expansion of Franklin’s Gardens is crucial in the long-term development of the club and we want to make sure we do it right.”
The Saints originally announced draft plans for a new North Stand in May 2009. The plans confirmed this evening have been amended from those of just two years ago, and Barwell explained why the changes have been made.
“We believe that the plans we have announced tonight suit our needs perfectly,” he added. “They still represent the biggest single increase in capacity in the club’s history and when we are filling the seats week in, week out, we will be in the top five clubs in Europe in terms of average attendances at our regular home ground.
“We will also have the option of using stadium:mk in Milton Keynes, which will be increasing in capacity up to 32 thousand in the next 12 months and would give many more supporters the opportunity to watch the Saints than we could ever fit into Franklin’s Gardens.
“This mirrors what is now common practice across Europe and means we would fit perfectly into the template for professional rugby clubs as laid out recently by business analysts Deloitte – sustainability based on investment in our home ground together with the added profile and income resulting from matches held at a bigger stadium.
“We remain committed to the town of Northampton but we also have to ensure that the Saints does not get left behind in what is a very competitive sport. This development will give us the ability to continue our investment in the playing side of the club, including spending up to the limits of the salary cap, while continuing the sustainability of the club as a business, which after all is in the interests of everyone associated with the club.”
The increase in capacity would also see Franklin’s Gardens meet ERC’s requirements for a Heineken Cup quarter final. But Barwell also said that the development was not about just a one-off match, rather about giving more people the opportunity to watch the Saints week in, week out throughout the nine month season.
“Big matches like a Heineken Cup quarter final are great, but we have to take into account our bread and butter first, which of course means Aviva Premiership Rugby and the group stages in Europe,” he said.
“We believe that a 15 thousand stadium packed to capacity is better than 20 thousand capacity arena that is only half-full or two-thirds full. It creates a better atmosphere that the team can thrive off and means we can continue our tradition of providing a big match experience that lives long in the memory.
“Having two thousand extra people coming into Northampton to watch rugby also gives the town’s businesses a potentially larger customer base to tap into.
“The development of Franklin’s Gardens is a win-win for everyone concerned, and we look forward to progressing with the expansion of the stadium in the next two years.”
NOTES
- Northampton Saints remains committed to the principle of using enabling retail development as the primary funding source for the new North Stand
- The club’s management has had positive discourse with the new administration of Northampton Borough Council, and thanks the council leaders for their public support of the proposed development and funding plans
- On September 5th, 2011, business analysts Deloitte revealed Northampton Saints as being the 11th biggest club in Europe in terms of financial turnover, and 8th biggest in terms of average attendance at the club’s normal home ground. This development would enable the club to move up both lists and into the top five of the average attendance league
Computer generated images of the new North Stand are available from Northampton Saints, as is a video interview with Saints chairman, Leon Barwell.
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“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Quite happy to go to MK for the odd game ( as long as its the ODD game )
Lets hope Rugby Lions do not overtake us in 5-10 years with there ambitious plans !
The size (given the obvious building constraints) seems perfect. I think a packed stadium is always better.
While the number at last Saturdays game were down, that was just one game. There could be a number of factors including the world cup. The club has to plan based on the last few years, and what they consider will happen over the next decade or so.
We are very lucky supporters to have such a great stadium to watch our rugby in, and in a year or two, we will have an
even better stadium.
I'll drink to that (although I will drink to most things)
Saint til I die
Interesting to note that the Twickenham double-header saw a large reduction in numbers this season with a very interesting editorial in the Rugby Paper on sunday as to the reasons why supporters of the London teams did not turn up as they had previously.
the sensible approach to expansion - enough to suit our immediate and medium term needs but not too much so that we are left with a half empty white elephant.
I also think that a cautious expansion is sensible as who knows what horrors may be inflicted on ( will occur to ) club rugby over the next decade .
Those who assume that the rugby brand will for ever increase and expand including at club level may be quite wrong.
"NOTES
- Northampton Saints remains committed to the principle of using enabling retail development as the primary funding source for the new North Stand."
So, are we actually any further forward? No ASDA, no stand still seems to be the case, unless anyone can convince me otherwise.
Provided all the planning goes through there will be a new stand at the start of the 2013/12 season.
...
Back to the future, bring back the old days!
Quote:Chris Wearmouth
Stockers, as was said at the AGM we remain committed to enabling retail development. But we are also at the stage where the expansion has to happen regardless.
Provided all the planning goes through there will be a new stand at the start of the 2013/12 season.
Thanks Chris, but how is it going to be funded? By "all the planning" do you include planning consent for a supermarket?
Are the two projects still inextricably linked?
No, Stockers, the two projects are not inextricably linked. In the ideal world planning applications for both will be submitted at the same time. But if the situation arises where we have to submit one on our own we are prepared to do so.
Either way, I'm very pleased for the club.
That said, it would be possible to extend the stadium further. But we'll be focussed on filling 15.5k week in, week out, for several years before we'll be in a position to consider that.
I would refer back to my original question regarding this design though, and looking through the 3D model animation, I do not see the memorial stone there.
Our home match nearest 11/11 each year is a part of the identity of Franklins Gardens and I certainly hope we will not be losing the memorial or the respect shown at that particualr game.
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143
“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tetleys Block F E143